Over the last 40 years, the Egyptian vulture population has declined by 83% in Bulgaria. In the coming years, it is expected to disappear completely unless serious efforts are made to restore population levels. The reasons for the rapid decline in numbers of this landmark species are the use of poisons and poison baits. Other threats are collisions with the power grid, poaching and areas of risk due to human activity along the vulture's migration route from Bulgaria to Africa.

• Bulgaria ranks second in Europe in bird species diversity

For more than 20 years, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) has been working hard to prevent the extinction of Egyptian vultures in Bulgaria. For the next two years about 20 thousand leva (10 thousand euro) are needed for breeding of newly hatched chicks in protected conditions. However, the sum is too large for the members of the society, so they rely on donors. The funds are needed for transport costs to zoos in Europe and to Bulgaria, food and medical care for the young birds while they adapt living in an aviary.

• Egyptian vultures Boris and Jenny in European project
  

Information on what we can do to help is available on the BSPB website.